Dyeing my oxfords, part 2 - YouLookFab Forum

Sorry I haven't been around much - I was away at a conference all week.

Awhile back I posted about possibly dyeing my orphaned black Miz Mooz Histeric Oxfords. I am having a lot of trouble wearing black shoes these days, because of the whole bookending issue (they always look super bottom heavy on me). I initially wanted to dye them like Sveta's yellow/cream oxfords, but the soles are black, so I have to stick with a black "base". I thought about black and white, but wasn't sold on the idea. Then I saw Christy's Jeffrey Campbell oxfords in her post today, and started thinking about taupe or taupe/cream.

SO:

1) Here are some inspiration oxfords, including Christy's.

2) Here are the actual oxfords - they are unusual in having an extra piece of leather in the front.

3) Here is a hack-photoshop mock-up of a possibility using taupe and cream

4) Here is a possibility just using taupe.

5) Here are the Tarrago colors I found online - 3 different taupes and 2 creams. I'll probably have to just go with whatever I order, since I'm sure the colors aren't true to the screen shots. I'm leaning towards pelican and grey taupe or dark beige, if I decided on #3.

6) Suz and Aida's suggestion

Thoughts about 3 vs. 4 vs. 6? Any other advice?

Thanks!

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13 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Nice ideas! I like #3.

Suz

What a great idea, Sarah! I love both your mock-ups, with a slight preference for #3.

Here is a thought, however. In terms of leg lengthening, it might make sense to have the lighter portion of the shoe where the laces are - rather than having that portion black. I am not sure if that is possible in terms of the patterning. And it might not be advisable for other reasons (i.e. the balance with the black sole might be off, visually). But I just thought I would mention it in case you want to photo shop that option as well before proceeding.

Also, if you note, the Jeffrey Campbell's have the lighter portion up top.

Aida

How about inverting #3 so the black is the striped center bit?

sarah

Thanks, Suz. Since this is my first leather dyeing job ever, I want to keep it as simple as possible, and I was wondering if dyeing the darker part would be more complicated because of the tongue, etc. Angie's oxfords are dark in the middle and seem to work well as bookenders. What do you think? Maybe I'm just being lazy, but I'm sort of nervous about this whole dye-job thing.

http://youlookfab.com/2010/09/.....bd-my-way/

Here are a couple of options the way you suggest.

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Hi Aida,

I'm not sure I get it - what would the order of colors be from bottom to top?

I like #1 in this new set!

EDIT: Your new mock ups are what I meant

Gotcha.

Sveta

Just for more ideas - these are Fidji oxfords in two colors - taupe and nude

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Thanks, Sveta. I think I have to keep the black in there somewhere, because of the sole. But I love those colors.

I like the new one - #1.

I DO think your original version would look great, also, and can totally see why you would go for that. (I would be worried about dying the tongue area as well). Maybe Rae or Claire can pipe up about this; they have had great success with dyeing. It may not be as tricky as it appears.

I think the newer version you posted would be more easy to wear with bare legs, more lengthening. BUT - do you wear them mostly with skirts or pants? If with jeans, then maybe it doesn't matter so much in the first place.

ANY of your versions will bookend your hair really nicely. It's a brilliant idea, really.

Thanks, Suz, I really want these for trousers and jeans mostly and I think you're right - any of the versions will get more wear than the current black ones (unless I screw up, of course) because of the bookending issue. So hopefully the leather dyeing experts will weigh in with some advice on just how tricky this might be and whether any of these versions would be better for a novice like me : )

Anonymous

I like 3 the best, plus it looks easier to do.

Hi there! Sorry I haven't been around much either, my laptop's in the shop.

Well, I would keep it as simple as possible. I would only use one color of dye (cheaper too) and avoid dyeing the tongue/laces area. What about dyeing BOTH middle sections, (as one unit, the same color) leaving the toe-cap and vamp black? You will have less cutting in to do that way. Also, as you plan on wearing them with pants/jeans it won't be leg-shortening if the vamp stays black.

FWIW, you will have less coats to apply if you choose a medium color like taupe. The pelican is so light that you will have to do a ka-jillion applications. Ask me how I know this. Okay, I'll tell you. Rae sent me a bag in the care package from the SoCal swap. It was a strange color that reminded us both of Circus Peanuts (the candy). I chose the Tarrago dye called silver, which is almost white. Even after two full dye kits, you can still see the orange coming through. So now it's kind of a metallic rose gold color, which isn't bad, but it's not what I was going for.

Thanks, Claire! I was hoping one of the Dyeing Queens would weigh in. Sorry to hear your laptop in on the blink : (

I think I'll go with option #3 - I realize I'll have a bit of taping to do, but I sort of obsessed with the taupe - black - cream look of Christy's oxfords. But at least the cream section isn't that large, so hopefully I won't have to go overboard with the dye kits.

I'll be sure to post the final results - I ordered the dark beige and the off white after looking at color swatches on about 5 different websites (the off white is definitely not the yellow that it looks above, and the pelican appears to be a pearly finish, not what I wanted).

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